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Tariffs, trade wars and market volatility

INSIGHT ARTICLE
|
April 10, 2018

Whereas markets produced strong and steady returns throughout 2017, market returns have been far more mixed and volatile in 2018. A variety of factors contributed to this year’s volatility, the most recent culprit being rising tensions over trade between the U.S. and China. A series of recently announced tariffs has increased concerns for a broader potential trade war, in turn, weighing on markets.

President Trump’s announcement late last week indicating a consideration of tariffs for an additional $100 billion of Chinese goods dragged down equity markets by 1 percent to 2 percent last Friday, leaving equities with flat to slightly negative performance for the year.

Why tariffs?

A tariff is a tax most commonly applied to imported goods. In the U.S., the tariff (tax) is collected by a customs broker or agent when goods enter the country. The goal of a tariff is to make U.S. goods more attractive by increasing the price of foreign goods.

While a tariff might benefit a domestic producer, the tariff raises the cost for businesses that use the impacted good as part of the production process. Businesses affected by the tariff generally have a few options: cut costs elsewhere, absorb the cost of the tariff (or accept lower profit margins) or pass the increased cost along to the consumer.

The Trump Administration stated that the tariffs are aimed at creating a fairer trade environment. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a recent CNBC interview that the United States’ objective is not to engage in a trade war with China, but to instead put American interests first. In a separate interview, Secretary Mnuchin noted, “Whatever happens in trade, I don’t expect it to have a meaningful impact on our economy.”1

What tariffs?

In recent weeks, the United States and China have made a series of ‘back-and-forth’ tariff announcements. The current tariff proposals would cover approximately $50 billion worth of U.S. and Chinese goods, though President Trump announced on April 5 that he was considering additional tariffs covering another $100 billion worth of Chinese goods. The Peterson Institute for International Economics provided the following analysis of the current tariff proposals:

Total value of 2017 U.S. exports to China affected by Chinese tariffs

$49.8 billion

Total value of 2017 Chinese exports to the U.S. affected by U.S. tariffs

Trade war ahead?

It is uncertain whether the recent salvos between the U.S. and China will ultimately produce a trade war. And it could still be quite a while before the announced tariffs go into effect (if at all). U.S. companies have until May 22 to object to proposed tariffs. After May 22, the U.S. government has 180 days to decide whether to proceed with the proposed tariffs. In a recent press briefing, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders commented, “It’ll be a couple months before tariffs on either side would go into effect.”2 Given this timeline, there is still time for a more amicable solution other than retaliatory tariffs to emerge.

What to expect and how to respond

Investors are understandably concerned about potential ramifications of a trade war with China (and possibly other trading partners), though it is simply too early to conclude to what extent tariffs will be utilized and what the ultimate impact will be. Amid the current uncertainty, investors should consider the following:

Beware the dangers of extrapolation

While it is fair to conclude that a trade war would be a drag on economic growth, it is impossible to know what trade policy might look like several months from now and how markets might respond thereafter. As the adage goes, investors should focus on “time in the market, not timing the market.” The chart below illustrates that missing just a few good days in the market can have a significant impact on long-term returns. As counterintuitive as it may seem, some of the market’s best days occur during periods of heightened uncertainty; over the past 20 years, 6 of the S&P 500’s best 10 days occurred within 2 weeks of the index’s 10 worst days.

2. Expect volatility to continue

Investors should consider the low volatility environment of 2017 an anomaly, rather than the norm. Continued uncertainty surrounding U.S. trading relationships, the Brexit negotiation, North Korea, etc., are just a few of the items that could continue to drive market volatility.

3. Revisit your target allocation

Given the extended bull market for equities over the past several years, some investors may have overestimated their willingness to withstand market volatility. The most recent market pullback is a good reminder of the risks inherent with investing. Investors are encouraged to revisit their long-term goals and evaluate risks being taken to achieve those goals. During periods of heightened volatility, investors often feel the need to “do something”, though short-term, reactive moves are often ill-timed and can significantly impair the effectiveness of a well-designed investment plan. So long as circumstances and long-term objectives have not changed, investors should adhere to their long-term investment plan and should thoughtfully rebalance over time.

Information in this document was prepared by DiMeo Schneider & Associates, L.L.C. and although information in this document has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, RSM US Wealth Management LLC, DiMeo Schneider & Associates, L.L.C. and their respective affiliates do not guarantee its accuracy, completeness or reliability and are not responsible or liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses from its use. Any such information may be incomplete or condensed and is subject to change without notice. The Frontier EngineerTM is a registered trademark of DiMeo Schneider & Associates, L.L.C.

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